Best Breast Drill? Millers Falls 87

[Rhyolith]

Numerous at my local car boot, a decent usable Breast/Chest Drill can be acquired for under £1 costing slightly more on eBay. As they are so cheap I thought them a good subject for me to improve my tool restoration skills with and I now own a huge number of them. There seems to be a lot difference in the quality and features offered on these old tools and this got me thinking, which is the best? Miller Falls is the first name that comes to mind and no Millers Falls drill is as spectacular as the Mighty No.87 (or No.97 with the 3 jaw chuck). It has 5 ratchet modes, Left, Right, Left Onward (or double ratchet), Right onward or Plain (no ratchet); Plus 2 gears. As a engineering and design masterpiece I have neither heard nor found anything that challenges it.

Millers Falls No.87 by Rhyolith, on Flickr
Millers Falls No.87 by Rhyolith, on Flickr

But is the 87 the best? Well its certainly the most sophisticated and looks awesome on the shelf. However its also heavy and driving all those pinions round generates a lot of friction despite the build quality being exemplarily. This makes drilling with the 87 tiring relative to less complex tools. It is for this reason it is not my go too Breast drill with simpler models being the best working drills. This is not to say the extra features are worthless, ratcheting allows for use in tight spaces (the double ratchet excels in this situation) and 2 gears are virtually essential for these tools. Ultimately I like a balance of having the bells and whistles to help me out and simplicity to get the job done efficiently.

The most balanced Breast drill I own is the Miller Falls No.200. It has an inbuilt 2-gear mechanism that is the smoothest and most functional I have seen... in fact smooth and functional is the perfect summation of this tool generally. To use its just so... easy! After using the 200 and going another drill I find myself thinking "God this is hard work!".

Miller Falls No.200 by Rhyolith, on Flickr
Millers Falls No.200 by Rhyolith, on Flickr

Thus this I proclaim the Millers Falls No.200 as the best Breast Drill ever for a no specialised user, at least that I have found. Though in my book the 87 remains by far the most impressive and is by no means a bad drill for users, but we are talking about the best!

 

[AndyT]

Well Millers Falls certainly made some fine drills, I do agree with that.
I'd like to register a vote for the 1980

which has an especially nifty ratchet mechanism, but it's not quite up to the standard of the North Brothers Yankee 1555

I guess these two are close relatives of the ones you have chosen, and I like them for the same reasons. All the same, let's not forget the Frenchman Contal's perforated disk special

But those are all drills I own. The one I really want is the one that got away - spotted once on eBay and never seen again - the Ultra-Rapid!

As discussed here

and here (source of the illustration) http://www.georgesbasement.com/geobasmt/grbraces/Ultra-RapidDrill/TheDrillItself/Ultra-Rapid.htm

 

[Rhyolith]

Like the look of the 1980! Looks a lot like the 200 but a bit smaller (which would be perfect!), I have missed all the ones on eBay which is the only place I see them... defiantly on my "wanted" list! Do you mind me asking how much you paid for yours?

Have you ever come across a No.87 or 97? Personally I think its like a much better made version of the No.1555, however my 1555 does not work that well so I have not had the experience of using one properly (mine jams under load for a unknown reason). If I ever get hold of a 1555 thats fully working, then a proper comparison might be interesting; though I have never seen Millers Falls beaten in terms of quality which is the main difference between these 2.

The other 2 here are new to me, might read up on them tomorrow, that second one is particularly blizzard... never seen anything like it!

 

[Vann]

As a engineering and design masterpiece I have neither heard nor found anything that challenges it.

I think the Yankee 1555/555 challenges it. Which is the better is probably subjective.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[bugbear]

I very rarely use a breast drill for wood - for small holes I use an egg beater,
for large, a brace; the cross over is at (roughly) 7 mm.

For drilling holes larger than 6mm-ish in metal I use a Bosch.

Although I do keep a Stanley Continental (748) just in case.

And a MF #188.

Can't be too careful.

BugBear

 

[Droogs]

I would cast my vote for my Yankee 1555. Mine used to jam on occasion as well, but after a good strip and rebuild, which involved going over each gear tooth with 800g equiv slip stone and got rid of any small burrs on the teeth. Rebuilt it giving it a good packing with grease in the ratchet mechanism and chuck, allowing the excess to squeeze out and then used that on all the gear cogs. runs sweat a as now. has a lovely clickety whirr in use, so much better thatn the more common banshee scream these days

 

[ED65]

Numerous at my local car boot, a decent usable Breast/Chest Drill can be acquired for under £1 costing slightly more on eBay.

!!! Gah I'm so envious reading about the low-low prices in the UK.

 

[bugbear]

Numerous at my local car boot, a decent usable Breast/Chest Drill can be acquired for under £1 costing slightly more on eBay.

!!! Gah I'm so envious reading about the low-low prices in the UK.

Read the "rip off" threads. They'll make you feel better.

BugBear

 

[AndyT]

Like the look of the 1980! Looks a lot like the 200 but a bit smaller (which would be perfect!), I have missed all the ones on eBay which is the only place I see them... defiantly on my "wanted" list! Do you mind me asking how much you paid for yours?

Have you ever come across a No.87 or 97? Personally I think its like a much better made version of the No.1555, however my 1555 does not work that well so I have not had the experience of using one properly (mine jams under load for a unknown reason). If I ever get hold of a 1555 thats fully working, then a proper comparison might be interesting; though I have never seen Millers Falls beaten in terms of quality which is the main difference between these 2.

The other 2 here are new to me, might read up on them tomorrow, that second one is particularly blizzard... never seen anything like it!

I bought the 1980 in Bristol Design and I think it was about £20. So not a bootfair bargain but I thought it was a fair price for an interesting and usable drill in good condition. I've certainly never come across another like it, though if an 87 comes my way I could be tempted!

The 1555 was a gloatworthy bargain in a collection only batch on eBay for which I was the only bidder.

 

[Rhyolith]

I think the Yankee 1555/555 challenges it. Which is the better is probably subjective.

To a degree, and certainly design wise. I personally prefer the 1555 ratchet mode selector over the 87's for example. However I think there is a very solid case for the 87/97 being the better made of the 2, which is the main reason for my preference for Miller Falls over North Bros for Breast Drills. For starters the 87 does not suffer from the teeth lose that plagues so many North Bros tools, this on its own ends the debate of which is better for me. The Ratchet on the 87 also feel significant tougher than the 1555, and I really do mean significantly! Under heavy use I feel the 1555 would wear out or brake to the point of uselessness decades before the 87. Also the 87's double ratchet works in both directions, the 1555's only works in one.

I would cast my vote for my Yankee 1555.

Have you used a 87 or 97? Actually out of interest does anyone else own/have access to both?

Mine used to jam on occasion as well

2 things: The 87 never jams (quality!) and I have cleaned my 1555 so many times, check it so many times... and still the issue: with no load it runs nice and smooth, but as soon as I load it up (drill as hole) it jams (always). I was made from the parts of 2 broken 1555s do you think that might be the issue (are parts slightly different sizes in different 1555s?)? I have included an image, if anyone can spot something or help me out with this It would be greatly appreciated.
North Brothers "Yankee" No.1555 by Rhyolith, on Flickr

I bought the 1980 in Bristol Design and I think it was about £20.

That is way cheaper than the ones I have seen go on eBay (but it is eBay -_-). Those half size breast drills (or double size hand drills) do seem a good size, covering all bases in a sense. I only have a fairly manky Yankee 1545 (the smaller version of the 1555) that I wished worked better than it does... the parts a worn so bad though.

In Regard to what Bugbear said, I do think that from a "Getting the job done" perspective breast drills are pretty obsolete, benefitting less from the control and precision advantage smaller tools have over their electric equivalents in todays world. Personally I just like the feel of them and the genius behind some of the more premium models... I think anyone who has seen the double ratchet in action will know what I mean here.

 

[Vann]

Personally I just like the feel of them and the genius behind some of the more premium models... I think anyone who has seen the double ratchet in action will know what I mean here.

+1.

I have a Yankee No.1555; a No.1545 & No.545 (which I hope to rebuild into one working drill); and I bought my daughter a No.1530. The 1555 purrs beautifully. Neither of the 1545/545 currently work (2nd bought for spare parts). The 1530 did work fine, but now has an issue with jamming that I haven't yet investigated.

Maybe the Millers Falls machines are more robust. I've never seen a No.87 nor No.97 - but then I might not recognise one if I did see it (whereas I can spot a Yankee lurking in a pile of tools, no trouble).

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Droogs]

@ Rhyolith, in all honesty I was being a little precocious (I can t spell facetious ) and forgot to put the second "my" in bold as I was voting only for my drill not the whole genus of 1555s. I do have to say I do love using mine and use it in preference to any other drill when I can. I haven't seen a 87/97 but I do imagine they would be great to use. with regard to procurring such items, despite what a lot of people post down south about low cost and abundance, north of the border things can be prety grim for old tool buyers. It seems Scotland bought into the idea of consumerism and most of what you find, when you find it is that particular decades equivalent of "made in PRC/Taiwan".

@AndyT, rest assured if I am ever fortunate enough to come across an Ultraa Rapid, I will let you know.

Immediately,

After I've bought it

 

[AndyT]

@AndyT, rest assured if I am ever fortunate enough to come across an Ultraa Rapid, I will let you know.

Immediately,

After I've bought it

:lol: :lol:

Deal!
And if I can find one like the one I saw on eBay that sold for £30 I will do likewise!

It's sad to think of Scotland as being a hand tool desert, when you had such a huge, world class manufacturing base for so long.
Mention Clyde shipbuilding and I guess most people think of steel and heavy trades, but all those passenger carrying ships were stuffed full of bespoke woodwork, much of it really high grade, palatial stuff.

 

[Rhyolith]

No worries Droogs, I like arguing for my point of view anyway :wink: I would like to do a full review comparison of the 87 and 1555, but I need to fix my 1555 or get another for that.

I think I would prefer one of the better bench drills to the Ultra rapid practically, its only my collector side that wants it. Mind its only my collector side that wants 25+ hand drills all mounted on a wall in size order :mrgreen:

Norfolk is certainly excellent for old tools, however I do live half the year in mid-wales where there is similar problem to what is being desribed in Scotland. Really miss the carboots round Norwich in the winter.

 

[Droogs]

The hard time in finding decent qualitymade tools is annoying, especially as I live within a mile or so of where Mathieson's Edinburgh works used to be. Have spent the last 4 years coming where I can in the city and it's truely saddening the drought in finding things. I use hand tools 80% of the time and constantly am on the look out for stuff. only power tools I have are a Scheppach Basa 1 BS, a lidl ROS, a 1/4 and a 1/2 router and a very cheap combi drill. but it's definately getting harder to find decent stuff around here. Think I may have to start visiting other parts of Scotland to try my luck over the summer.